I just bought a 5lb lower, a breather, and a FTVB w Pan from JLP! Im getting a tune from Pauls HP, and a Cool Aid + plugs, thermo, and TractionBars in January...but after doing some research on here, im getting the feeling that the 5LBER is gonna grenade my engine. Now, I know a little about the Heaton, like the fact that a 6lber is about max. So, should I take the risk and run the 5lber...or should I get a 3 or 4 due to the fact that I owe like 18k on my ride? What does everyone think?

Deep Pockets

 

Tuned properly and maintained right (oil changes, PROPER octane gas,Watch the WOT kickdowns, etc..) you should have zero problems with a 5 lb. lower.

I drove around with an 8 lb. lower for a year with zero issues ( i wouldn't recommend it and my tuner yelled at me everyday for it)

VINNIE

 

how many miles do you think my beast will take with only weekend racing, and staying out of the blower 8 out of 10 times? Give me a good guess...lots of invested to be braking so soon!

Deep Pockets

 

I know guys running 4 lb lowers and racing them on stock bottom ends for years.

Its all in the tune. make sure you have an experience tuner do your L . One that has done many Ls before. Thats the Key.

VINNIE

 

You'll be fine with the 5lb lower. As Vinnie said, it all in the tune and also in how you drive it on a day to day basis. Not doing kickdowns is one of the main things. Get a good tune and you'll be fine.

Chad

 

While I agree with the theory that you will probably be fine, it sounds like you are concerned with being able to come up with the money if it blows up. There is a definite chance of that. One truck might hold 600rwhp on a stock block, and another might only hold 385rwhp. If you can't afford to fix it if you break it, then you need go way easy on the mods - maybe even back to stock boost. Simple as that.

 

Well if you have the 'Deep pockets,small arm" syndrome then Yes by all means stay stock.

 

Try not to get caught up in the annual "winter" engine woes. Every year at this time you get a handful of "less informed" L owners who have modded with strong or aggressive tunes that end up neglecting the realities of cold weather and obvious do's and don'ts (like the most recent 120mph blow).

As mentioned above by some very experienced L owners you should be fine with a 5lb lower, safe tune and some common sense ie - no stomp downs at 80mph or above and reasonable boost levels in the much colder weather. You may want to consider an additional tune for such conditions if you can't control that right foot of yours.

My first L was an '03 with a KB and 16lbs of boost I ran 496/562 rw for 12,000 miles no problems - with many 1/4 mile runs. I now own a '99 and I asked three supporting vendors what is the biggest bang for the buck with no risk. All had the same answer, 5lb lower, cold air and safe tune (safe tune = stock shift points, 11.1 a/f, marginal timing increase - and again driver common sense).

Those recent mods woke my L up completely and I am very pleased with the result especially with the confidence that nothing will break (knock on wood). Nothing is a guarrantee, but just keep a level head about how you drive and when and where you WOT during the winter months.


Have fun keep the tune reasonable!


D-Day

 

Thanks alot guys. I got a good level head about investments, and I guess you gotta pay to play. Im gonna try the 5lber and hopefully it will work out; Im sure it will.

Deep Pockets

 

Good and sensible advice, Dan.

 

This is the best advise you can get.
DO NOT try to save a buck on a cheap tune!!!!!
Too much timing or lean A/F will cost you an engine.
I personally only get mine dyno tuned as it is in local conditions.
Listen to these guys. Great info.
If you cannot afford to blow it up then stay safe on the tune.
Best of luck with the truck.

 

As long as they know what they're doing and you stay out of the boost in low temps, you should be fine. Being that you're in Ohio, you more than meet the temperature requirements to experience the 'BOOM' affect.

 

A good tune and you should be good. I have almost 3 years and 26K miles on my 6lb lower and about a 1lb upper.

get a good tune with a SAFE A/F

 

Being from Michigan, Pauls HP tuned my truck the first time. He did an excellent job! Explained everything to me and what he was doing and why. The ONLY reason I didn't go back to him for later tunes is he is expensive. He knows what he's doing, he's been in literally hundreds of magazines (him or his cars).

I've been running a 6# with 435hp/522trq at the rear wheels for about 2 years. This year I added some more goodies and probably upped the power to 445-450/540-545 at the rear wheels and have had ZERO problems.

The tuning software has come a long way in the last few years, resulting in the tuners getting more power and a safer tune.

Just so you know I used Sal at PSP and he locked my timing at a maximum of 16 degrees, so regardless how hard I push it, my timing will not exceed 16 degrees. I told him I wanted safe and he delivered!

Just tell Paul you want a safe tune. If you want a race tune bring a few gallons of race fuel, as he will dyno tune it with premium for the street, and race fuel for the track.

I had a 3# when Paul tuned mine, and I NEVER used the race tune side of the flip chip.
If you are in Ohio, you should visit www.miloc.org and talk to us Detroit guys, there are others in the area that are much less expensive.

 

If you beat it, it's going to break.

I've had a Magnum Powers blower since JDM made their first shipments. 6# lower, 2.70 upper, and lot's of other little goodies with the stock 42# injectors. I got my first SES light when the weather turned cold this year. I was going lean. Threw in the 60# injectors and no worries. I drive it everyday and I am so confident in it's reliability that I don't own a second car. I'm waiting for something special to hit the streets before I get another stablemate.

It's all in the tune and how you drive the truck.